Cancun, Mexico – During the opening ceremony of COP13, the global biodiversity summit being held in Cancún through December 17th, President Enrique Peña Nieto tripled the size of Mexico's protected natural areas, signing four executive orders setting aside 65 million hectares (nearly 161 million acres) of land and marine zones.

Peña Nieto signed the executive orders on a beach in the Riviera Maya, granting Mexico's Caribbean waters, the Sierra de Tamaulipas, the offshore Pacific and Pacific islands the status of protected natural areas.

"We have joined the small group of countries that have met the Aichi target" in terms of protecting 10 percent of marine zones, reaching 23 percent, Peña Nieto said, adding that nearly 14 percent of Mexico's land surface was protected, just below the 17% target.

Mexico will now have 91 million hectares of protected natural areas, with 70 million in marine zones and 21 million on land, the president said.

"We are making a serious commitment, firm and very determined, to make our contribution as a nation ... to conservation and protecting our environment," safeguarding the quality of life of future generations, Peña Nieto said.

The Mexican Caribbean Biosphere Reserve protects 5.75 million hectares in the southeastern state of Quintana Roo, covering 50% of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, while the Sierra de Tamaulipas provides a refuge for 5 of Mexico's wildcats: jaguars, pumas, jaguarundis, oncillas and ocelots.

The Mexican Pacific Biosphere Reserve sprawls over 59.7 million hectares in eight states, protecting a wide range of wildlife, plants and ecosystems.

The president also extended protected status to 1.1 million hectares on Mexico's Pacific islands, creating refuges for birds, sea turtles, seals and sea lions.

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